Note: This is a seattlepi.com reader blog. It is not written or edited by the P-I. The authors are solely responsible for content. E-mail us at newmedia@seattlepi.com if you consider a post inappropriate..

8: The Mormon Proposition at SIFF

What was ultimately behind the passing of Proposition 8, an amendment to the California constitution banning gay marriage, you ask? According to 8: The Mormon Proposition (a poignant documentary by Reed Cowan) – millions of Mormon dollars, that’s what.

Adorably cute gay couple Tyler Barrick and Spencer Jones were reared in Utah in Mormon families and in the Mormon Church. According to the film, Mormons believe gays are bad (as do many other religions). The Mormon focus is on the family and populating and perpetuating our dear earth with more Mormons. If you do this, you get to go to a big, fluffy, white cloud in the sky when you die, and the men get to have have multiple wives. Sounds fun, right? I might be oversimplifying.

Well, after 6 years together (despite being scorned by their families other than Tyler’s Mom) Tyler and Spencer were married at San Francisco City Hall. It was a gay day! Unfortunately, only mere months later their marriage rights would be denied do the controversial passing of Prop 8.

The film uncovers the backdoor dealings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints while they quietly built a “coalition” with Catholics and Evangelicals to ban gay marriages in Hawaii and later in CA. A letter went out to the members from the President (basically, God) calling for Mormons to donate their “means and time” to the cause. Interviews with current and former Mormons illuminated the fervor of this request, and as the first tenant of Mormon doctrine is obedience, the members followed the call like sheep.

Political watchdog Fred Karger is extensively interviewed about his investigation of the millions of dollars in contributions made by the church and its members to the Yes on Prop 8 Campaign. They made videos, knocked on doors “disguised” in plain clothes instead of the notable white shirt/black tie combo, and even used other people’s kids in ads without their consent.

Well what’s the problem, you ask? Technically the LDS Church is a tax-exempt religious organization – therefore they should not be meddling in political campaigns and contributions and such. Protesters called this out after Prop 8’s passage, but the laws about it are somewhat vague and the Mormon books were under-reported when investigated.

The film also looks at the church’s treatment of young gay men who have a higher suicide rate and homeless population in the Mormon community. After one young man’s suicide, his parents wrote a book basically saying good riddance. There’s also a crazy interview with Utah State Senator Chris Buttars in his work office calling gays the “meanest buggers” he has ever seen and comparing gay men to extremist Muslims.

These ridiculous comments were met with laughter by Seattle audiences, but I know there are a lot of hateful people just like Buttars roaming around. I’ll put it right out there, I think the passing of Prop 8 was despicable. The film also clearly has a bias but the story of young, gay Mormons and their struggle with religion is one worth watching.

See 8: The Mormon Proposition today at the Egyptian Theatre, 4:30pm. Tickets here.

Note: This is a seattlepi.com reader blog. It is not written or edited by the P-I. The authors are solely responsible for content. E-mail us at newmedia@seattlepi.com if you consider a post inappropriate..